Proverbs 10:12

"Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses." Proverbs 10:12

The word love here can mean to love, or just to like, or in the sense of being an ally. I really love that. I looked up ally and some of the synonyms are: partner, supporter, helper, collaborator, assistant.

I was thinking about what it means for us to be an ally of someone who has offended us. Isn't that the most preposterous thing to think about? 

I think it is probably our biggest tendency when we are offended to focus on the relationship between ourselves and the one that offended us. What would change if we began to focus on our relationship between ourselves and the ONE WHO forgave us? The ONE we belong to? What if we began to see ourselves in partnership with the Lord, the ONE WHO fills us with His love and makes all things possible?

Here are some things I think would happen:

1. We would see every person as valued and loved by God.


2. We would see every person as the way God sees them.


3. We would see our role as their ally in becoming who God wants them to be.


4. We would let God's love fill us and cover the offenses of others.

What do you think?